As you know, we have rules here for our giveaways, and they go something like this:

If you won in the last 90 days, you cannot win again.

Everyone can only answer once. Answering more than once will mean both answers are disqualified.

The winner is chosen at random and all applicable answers stand an equal chance.

If you don’t answer the question, you aren’t eligible to win (a lot of you ended up in this boat in the past).

The contest closes at noon tomorrow.

Make sure your correct e-mail is included in the box that says “e-mail” when you submit your comment. That is how we notify winners.

Unless another arrangement is made, prizes are to be picked up at the main Times Union building in Colonie during our business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) within a week of winning, or we will pick a new winner.

The question: What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to give up and how did it work out?

If not, the hardest thing I ever had to give up was my continued education. After a bit of turbulance, I walked away from a pHd program with just my masters degree, and I feel like I suffer every day from it.

Well, one of the hardest things I ever had to give up was my first car when I was a teenager. It was a 1989 Chevy Blazer and basically had everything wrong with it… I had to guess when I needed gas because the gas gague didn’t work, it always needed oil and air in one tire and something was always leaking, overheating, or stalling. But I didn’t care, it was MINE! Finally the brakes were broken beyond repair and my mom donated the box on wheels to the Kidney Foundation and passed alonger their newer car for me to drive. But, it just wasn’t the same. I loved that old clunker and definitely missed it!

This is a bit of a different answer, but the hardest thing that I had to ‘give up’ is my first serious boyfriend. It was an abusive relationship and it took all the guts I had to give him the boot and move on. Although it was hard at the time, I’d say it worked out well and I’m in a happy 3-year relationship now and learned lots of life lessons from that time in life :)

I think the hardest thing I have had to give up is a “sure thing” relationship about a year and a half ago. A sure thing isn’t always the right thing. I could have been content in that relationship, but I want more than contentment. I’m still looking for it, but so far the ride has been great!!

Coffee…I started drinking lots of tea. Then a certain coffee place had to bring back their Carmel Brulee Latte. But I still managed to only have one (if that) for a week while they had them for the holiday season. Now I’m back to my tea…until next Christmas dun, dun, dunnnnn!

sweets…I have a mjor sweet tooth and my addicition was the biggest hurdle I had to mentally overcome in my decision to have gastric bypass….I STILL struggle with not eating candy/cookies/cake/etc but having the surgery was the best thing I ever did.

My pursuit to joing the Peace Corps. My initial paperwork was in Tower #7 during 9/11. after my subsequent paperwork was quarantined somewhere in Alabama after the anthrax scare, I decided it was just not meant to be. It ended up that I did not make the world a slightly better place.

My dream career of being a reporter. I abondoned the burgeoning career earlier in my professional life to explore a more family-friendly career that would be condusive to having kids with my now-husband, and raising hypothetical children one day. I intermittently regret the decision, especially as I grow to recognize the importance of a little selfishness here and there, but for the good news, I have a wonderful husband and a fantastically rewarding career that will allow me to pursue my other life goals.

The hardest thing I gave up was my dream for my Phd. Financially, it is not feasible and having a masters degree with have to suffice. It is difficult to come to terms with your dream of continuing your education and realizing that lack of money and “real life” gets in the way.

Overall, life has worked out, I am gainfully employed, but not in that dream job that I’ve always wanted.

The hardest thing I’ve ever had to give up was moving to Atlanta, GA just a few months ago. Had an awesome job opportunity but the housing market and ultimately our decision to try to start a family took priority- while we still aren’t pregnant, in the end I’d miss my mom and dad too much to have stayed down there very long anyway.

it was short term, but i tried a full body cleanse that involved only water and green tea with lemon for the first 4 days. i probably could have stuck it out, but having to give up my 5 cups of coffee a day turned me into a maniac. i lasted two days and vowed to never do that to myself again!

I finally gave up trying to make a dead-end relationship work. It took 3 1/2 years, a lot of tears and a lot of patience from my friends who listened to the horrible stories over & over again… but I was finally able to give it up & move on. And I’ve been a much happier person ever since!

The hardest thing I had to give up was quality time with my nephew. I was laid off and spent a lot of time with him but then I had to go back to work and school fulltime. I miss the quality time I got to spend with him

I had to give up one ended friendships with a few people I treated like family. After so many unanswered calls, texts, emails and voicemails and attempts to see or talk at some point, I realized I only heard from these people when they wanted something from me and were never there when I needed them. Turns out, Im much happier bow without worrying about trying to be the good friend. It gives me more time for my hubby and my new friends who want to be in my life.

Smoking! I had tried several times and then I met my fiance 5.5 years ago. He did not like the habit and I knew I liked him more than smoking. So, I was able after a few tries to give it up completely. It was hard at first but now I hate the smell of smoke and could not even image smoking ever again. The longer I went without smoking the more I noticed differences in myself. Besides the smell of my clothes, hair, and fingers getting better, I could actually walk, run and exercise easier. I could Breathe! Best thing I have ever done!

I had to leave a relationship about 16 years ago with a wonderful man.. but we both had issues we had to resolve on our own. Fortunately, the time apart was the best thing for us… we’ve now been married for 12 years with 2 kids.

Just this New Years Eve (2010-2011) the family loved on our cat, Candy, one last time. She was extremely hard to give up. She has been a part of our family for over 15 years, but her kidneys were failing and our toughest decision ever was to let her go. Now only six days later – it’s tough to adjust without her. She will be truly missed.

My fear of commitment. For years I had a string of relationships that lasted no longer than three months each. Easy to emotionally detach from someone you won’t let know you. But if you don’t let anyone know you, then you might as well be alone.